The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Gunner’s Mate Second Class Harold Shank, United States Coast Guard, for heroism as a crewmember of the U.S.C.G.C. 83468 off the coast of France 30 June 1944. The mining of a landing craft was observed approximately one thousand yard distant. After three casualties had been taken from the stricken ship the commanding officer of the landing craft reported fire aboard and requested volunteers from the cutter to help extinguish the fire. Gunner’s Mate Second Class Shank volunteered and his efficiency and meritorious effort contributed substantially to the extinguishing of the fire and the bringing of the landing craft to the beach.